- APC set to reverse NASS leadership…Party desperate to remove Ekweremadu
The last may not have been heard of the crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), following refusal of lawmakers to fill the principal offices with the party’s choices. There are plots to reverse the election.
Daily Sun learnt that APC is insisting that the party’s wish should prevail over the matter as allowing the leadership of the National Assembly to remain, would amount to securing electoral victory for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to continue ruling. Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara were not APC’s choices but lawmakers told party hierarchy that they should be allowed to pick their leaders. The same scenario played out in the election of Senate officials.
It was also learnt that the silence of President Muhammadu Buhari on the appointment of his cabinet might be part of the plot to frustrate the recalcitrant APC lawmakers to have a rethink and do the bidding of the party.
What might have unsettled the lawmakers, was the report yesterday that Mr. President might not be keen to appoint his ministers in the next two months, meaning that the federal legislators may remain somehow redundant till when the President is ready with the list.
Also, the delay in the submission of the cabinet list might be borne out of the fear that recalcitrant National Assembly members may reject some of the nominees they are not favourably disposed to and thereby frustrate the President.
A source close to the party said: “the National Assembly members cannot operate effectively without functional ministries under the supervision of ministers.”
“Though Buhari has said that he can work with anybody, it is not sure if his loyalty to the party would not compel him to take some discrete steps to put the National Assembly on the right footing that would conform with his party’s norms of doing things,” he said.
The party is said to be desperate on removing the Deputy President, Ike Ekweremadu, for a couple of reasons that were borne out of mistrust and suspicion that he would not be disposed to the way the ruling APC would want to effect its change to bring about good governance.
Some of the reasons, according to a top APC chieftain, who pleaded anonymity, were that, conventionally, Deputy Senate President is always a Principal Officer in the ECOWAS Parliament, of which Nigeria is a member, meaning that Ekweremadu of the minority PDP would be representing the country in that Assembly.
Again, in the absence of the Senate President, his deputy will preside over the Senate affairs, meaning that if there were bills that the PDP is not in favour, such would be shot down or rendered ineffective.
Also, Deputy Senate President is always the Chairman, Committee on Constitution Review and APC believes that if there is any proposed amendment that is not in line with the PDP’s line of thought, it would be rejected with Ekweremadu as the person in charge. The Sun
